Chamfering machine



Dec. 11, 1934. c E WENDNAGEL 1,983,719

CHAMFERING MACHINE Filed June 9, 1953 5 Sheets$heet 1 1934- c. M, E.WENDNAGEL 1,983,719

CHAMFERING MACHINE Filed June 9, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 11, 1934. c.M. E. WENDNAGEL CHAMFERING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 9, 193311, 1934- c. M. E. WENDNAGEL ,7 9

CHAMFERING MACHINE Filed June 9, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 fglf Dec.,11,1934. c. M. E. WENDNAGEL 1,983,719

CHAMFERING MACHINE Filed June 9, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Maia]? aria/25%;?23 i @w Patented Dec. 11, 1934 UNITED, STATES PATENT OFFICE CHAMFERINGMACHINE Charles M. E. Wendnagel, Chicago, .111.

Application June 9, 1933, Serial No. 675,059

15 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in to provide a machineespecially adapted for 3.0- v

curately chamfering vat or tank bottoms of large diameter, regardless ofthe outline or shape thereof as well as upon work of other kinds.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of this kindwhich is self-propelled around the top and bottom margins of the bottombeing chamfered and which, to a certain extent is self-guiding and isaccurate though the bottom be uneven.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine of this kindwhich is not only fast in operation but which may be quickly adjustedfor operation on vat bottoms of different thicknesses.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a machine of thiskind'which is simple and durable in construction and is easy to operateeven by an inexperienced workman.

The above mentioned objects of the invention, as well as others,together with the several advantages thereof will more fully appear as Iproceed with my specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a view in side elevation of one form of chamfering machineembodying my invention,

illustrated in operative relation upon a vat bottom being operated uponand which vat bottom is shown substantially all in section;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the front or cutter end ofthe machine as taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional View through a part of the machine astaken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the machine in position upon the vat bottombeing operated upon, with parts of the machine shown as being brokenaway and in section to better illustrate the construction thereof; I

Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical sectional view on an enlarged scalethrough the rear end of the machine as taken on the line 55 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a detail longitudinal vertical sectional view as taken on theline 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a detail longitudinal sectional view through the driving shaftfor an endless tread forming a part of the invention; and

Fig. 8 is a detail vertical sectional view on tom operated upon.

an enlarged scale through a part of the driving mechanism of the machineas taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7.

In general, my improved chamfering machine includes a carriage orsupport adapted for movement around the margin of the vat or tank bot-Said support includes a horizontally disposed plate mounted at one endupon an endless traction tread member and carrying a swiveling caster onits other end. On.

the first mentioned end of the carriage or support. is mounted a head orcasing in which is journalled a driven shaft carrying a pair of rotarycutters for operating upon the top and bottom margins of the vat bottomnear its edge to chamfer the same.

The rotary cutters are so mounted on said driven shaft as to beadjustable toward and away from each other, to accommodate differentthicknesses of vat bottoms upon which it might be desired to operate.The head or casing is provided with means that have a rolling engagementwith the edge of the vat bottom. This means is capable of being adjustedor set to determine the gauge or radial depth of the chamfering cut tobe made.

On the carriage or support is mounted an electric motor which not onlydrives the cutters in their chamfering operations but which also drives,through suitable reduction gearing, the endless tread member by whichthe machine as a whole is caused to travel around the margin of the vatbottom. Included in said gearing is a clutch for controlling the forwardand reverse movement of the machine on the vat bottom and said gearingis provided with a control lever. This control lever may be actuated toprovide forward ,or reverse or may be set in neutral so that the cuttersare driven even though the machine is not traveling around the vatbottom margin.

A pair of handles is provided on the machine by which the operator mayassist in guiding the movement of the machine and may better hold themachine in the operative position it should occupy to "function properlyfor its intended purpose.

When the machine is in operation, it travels around the margin of thevat bottom and the rotary cutters will chamfer the top and bottomsurfaces of said margin to lit in the groove of the associated staveswith which it is later assembled The travel -movement of the ma- .chinein operation is fairly slow but the'cutter speed is relatively high andtherefore, the cut made is a sweeping one that insures a smooth I planedoff chamfer for the vat bottom.

Referring now in detail to that embodiment of the invention, illustratedin the accompanying drawings:

1 indicates as a whole a carriage or support in the form of ahorizontally disposed plate having a swiveling caster 2 arranged nearits inner end and suitably fixed to the underside thereof. At the frontend of the carriage plate an endless traction tread mechanism 3 isprovided, which includes shafts 4 and 5 respectively, suitably connectedto the underside of the plate 1 by brackets 66. These shafts convergeslightly toward their inner ends and are radial with respect to the axisof a fairly large vat bottom, say one having a diameter of from 18 to 20feet.

Fixed to the shaft 4 is a pair of spaced inner and outer sprocket Wheels'7 and fixed to the shaft 5 is a pair of smooth faced or untoothedwheels 8 which may be pulley wheels of the desired diameter. Trainedabout said pairs of wheels is an endless belt made up of broadinterconnected links 9. Each link has on one side thereof, a lug 10 forengagement with the recesses or spaces between the teeth of thesprockets '7. The top lap of this belt passes above the top of theplate 1. To hold the active bottom lap against flapping when travelingover an uneven vat bottom, I provide a depending element 11 on thebottom surface of the support and which element has an edge engagementwith the lugs on the various links. This keeps the bottom lap of theendless tread mechanism in good tread engagement with the vat bottom. Aguard plate 12 is provided at th outside of the tread mechanism and thisplate includes a felt sealing strip 13 along its bottom edge. The guardplate and sealing strip coact in preventing the cutters, which rotate athighspeed, from throwing chips into or under the tread mechanisms.

On the top side of the carriage plate and extending longitudinallythereof is an electric motor 14. The rear end of the armature shaft ofthe motor has a pinion 15 secured thereto. This pinion, through suitablespeed reduction and associated reverse gearing 16 operates to drive apair of gears 17 and 1.8, in opposite directions. These gears 17 and 18,are relatively mounted in spaced relation upon a shaft 19 extendinglongitudinally of the carriage plate along that side thereof associatedwith the driving sprockets '7 for the endless traction tread mechanism.

Each gear encompasses a friction clutch member 20 and 21 respectively,both of which are so secured to the shaft 19 as to rotate therewith.Each clutch member includes a hub 22 and an annular band 23 that isconnected to the hub by a web portion or spoke 24. Each band is split atone point and arranged between the ends of the band at the split is aspreader cam 25 to which is secured an arm that terminates near theshaft 19. The gearing mentioned is all enclosed in a suitable housing.

.Splined on the shaft 19 between the clutch members is a clutch armactuator 26 that is tapered at each end. This actuator is provided withan annular groove 27 in its periphery to receive studs carried by thebifurcated end 28 of a shifter lever 29. The lever 29 is pivotallymounted on the plate 1 and has a handle 30 extending from that sidethereof opposite the gearing.

When the clutch arm actuator standsin a position midway between theclutch members 29-21 as shown in Fig. 7, the gearing is in neutral, andneither gear 17 nor 18 is operative to drive the shaft 19.

However, when the actuator 26 is shifted in one direction or the other,one of its tapered ends engages that arm 26a toward which it is movedand acts to swing said arm outwardly. This movement of the arm spreadsthe clutch band into clutching engagement with the associated gear andlocks said gear to the shaft 19 so that said shaft is driven in thedesired direction.

As the tread mechanism is made on an arc, and as the shafts 4 5 thereforradiate from the axis or center of the are it is apparent that theshafts 4 and 5 must incline downwardly toward their inner ends as shownin Fig. 6. The inner end of the shaft 4 is connected by a gimbal oruniversal joint 31 with the associated end of the shaft 19.

The front end of the motor 14 has secured thereto, a suitable head 32.Rising from said head is an open front casing 33 including a top wall33a. The open front of this casing may be closed by a curved cover platewhich has been omitted from the drawings for the sake of clearness.

Journalled in the head 32 by means of top and bottom antifrictionbearings 34 -35 is the elongated hub 36 of an upwardly facing, spiralbevel gear 38 and which gear is disposed in the casing 33. The front endof the armature shaft of the motor extends into said casing and therehas fixed to it, a spiral bevel gear 39 that meshes with and drives thegear 38.

The antifriction bearings mentioned are combined thrust and rotativebearings and are held in operative position by retainer rings 40 and 41respectively. The ring 40 is clamped in place between the head 32 andthe bottom of the casing 33 while the retainer 41 has a threadedengagement with the bottom end of the bevel gear hub 36. The bevel gear38 and its hub 36 have a splined connection with an upright shaft 42.

Fixed to and depending from the head 32 is a rotary cutter casing 43that is open at both its front and rear. The open front of the cuttercasing is usually closed by a cover that has been omitted for clearnessin illustration. The bottom end of this casing is formed by a removablewall or plate 44.

The shaft 42 has its bottom end journalled in a suitable opening in theplate 44 while its top end is journalled in an antifriction bearing 44ain the top Wall 33a of the casing 33. This bearing is a combined radialand thrust bearing and associated with said bearing is suitable meansfor holding the same in its operative position.

Within the casing 43 there are secured to the shaft 42 in suitablyspaced relation, top and bottom chamfering cutters 45 and 46.Preferably, each cutter comprises a hub and a plurality of arms 47 and43 respectively that are curved in the direction of their rotation. Thearms of the top cutter have bottom cutting edges and the arms of thebottom cutter have top cutting edges. The cutters are held in spacedrelation by means of spacing collars 49 on the shaft 42 and nuts 50 onthe bottom end of the shaft operate to clamp the collars and cutters inthe desired relation. To change the spaced relation of the cutters toaccommodate operations on vat bottoms of different thicknesses, theplate 44 is removed and the clamp nuts 50 are taken on. This givesaccess to the spacing collars which may be removed and replaced byothers to not only properly position the cutters but also to .determinethe spacing therebetween, on the shaft. After the proper adjustmentshave been made, the parts are reassembled as before.

On opposite sides of the cutter casing are vat bottom edge engagingguides 51, each in the form of a roller 52. Each roller which has itsaxis arranged parallel the shaft 42, is journalled in a plate 53 havinga slot 54 therein. A screw 55 carried by the associated side of casing43 extends through the slot in each plate and a nut 56 is arranged oneach screw whereby the associated plate may be clamped in the desiredposition.

Projecting from the head 32 is a handle 57 and fixed to the rear end ofthe carriage plate is a second handle 58. By means of these handles, theoperator controls and guides the machine, although the arcuate endlesstread tends to maintain the machine in position.

Vat bottoms are usually made of heavy boards suitably dowelled togetherin edge-to-edge relation. In a vat bottom having a large diameter, afterthe same has been trimmed by sawing to the desired outline shape, it is"mounted on suitable supports. Such a bottom will have a flat uprightedge.

The machine is then positioned on the margin of the bottom. The rollers52 are then set to engage the edge of the bottom and thus provide agauge for the machine in the chamfering operation.

When the motor 14 is started, the cutters 45-46 are rotated at a highspeed and cut into the top and bottom margins of the vat bottom in theirinitial out. Thereafter the operator through the lever handle 30 throwsthe traction gearing into operation. This connects the endless treadmechanism to the motor so that the machine as a whole starts its travelabout the margin of the vat bottom. The operator by exerting a lateralinward pressure on the handle 5'7, holds the machine with the rollers 52engaged with the edge of the vat bottom so that said rollers act as agauge for the machine. In this movement of the machine the caster 2swivels into a trailing position that operatively supports the inner endof the machine in its travel around the margin of the vat bottom.

During this travel the top and bottom cutters chamfer off the top andbottom margins of the bottom outside the path of travel of the endlesstraction tread mechanism. Thus the machine travels around the bottom andsimultaneously chamfers the top and bottom surfaces thereof so that theywill have a bevelling fit in the grooves of the associated staves whenthe bottom and staves are assembled in operative relation.

By the use of the curved cutter arms, the chamfered cuts made aregenerally smooth and even, irrespective of the direction of the grain ofthe wood at any given point.

The motor employed is preferably one using alternating current and asshown, the cutters are iven at a ratio of one to one with the armaturethereof. If desired, a frequency changer may be used in connection withsaid motor whereby changes in the speed thereof and, of course, changesin speed of the cutters, may be obtained.

The improved machine makes it possible to quickly and accurately chamferthe marginal edges of the larger vat bottoms. In some cases, due to thediameter of the vat bottom operated upon, there might be a relativelysmall slippage of the endless tread mechanism, but such a slippage is ofno importance and, therefore, does not affect the operation of themachine.

The machine may be easily adjusted to operate upon vat bottoms ofdifferent thickness and may also be easily adjusted to make chamferingcuts of different radial depths merely by properly positioning the gaugerollers. The machine is also capable of use upon other kinds of bottoms,regardless of'their outline, shape or size and may also be used forchamfering operation on the edges of boards, timbers and the like.

While in describing the invention, I have referred in detail to theform, arrangement and construction of the various parts thereof, thesame is to be considered only in its illustrative sense, so that I donot wish to be limited thereto except as may be specifically set forthin the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A machine for chamfering the edge of a vat bottom or other workembodying therein, a support, an endless tread mounted on the supportfor engagement and movement upon the work operated upon, a chamferingcutter carried by the support for operative engagement with said workand disposed intermediate the longitudinal limits of the endless tread,means for driving the cutter, and means for gauging the position of thecutter in its chamfering operation on the edge of said work.

2. A machine for chamfering the edge of a vat bottom or other workembodying therein, a support, an endless tread mounted on the supportfor engagement and movement upon the work operated upon, a pair ofchamfering cutters carried by the support for operative engagement withtop and bottom marginal portions of said work and disposed intermediatethe longitudinal limits of the endless tread, means on said support fordriving the cutters, and means for gauging the position of the cuttersin their chamfering operations on the said marginal portions of saidwork.

3. A machine for chamfering the edge of a vat bottom or other workembodying therein a support, means providing an arcuate endless treadfor said support having an axis point substantially at the center of thework operated upon, a chamfering cutter carried by the support foroperative engagement with said work, means for driving the cutter, andmeans for gauging the position of the cutter in its chamfering operationon the edge of said work.

4. A machine for chamfering the edge of a vat bottom or other workembodying therein, a mobile support for engagement on the work operatedupon an endless tread mounted on the support, means for travelling thesupport, a pair or" cutters carried by the support for operativeengagement with top and bottom marginal portions of said work saidcutters being disposed intermediate the longitudinal limits of theendless tread, and means for gauging the position of the cutters intheir chamfering operations on the said mar-- ginal portions of saidwork.

5. A machine for chamfering the edge of a vat bottom or other workembodying therein, a support, an endless tread mounted on the supportfor engagement and movement upon the work operated upon, a pair ofchamfering cutters carried by the support for operative engagement withopposite sides of an edge portion of said work, means for driving thecutters and travelling the support, upon its endless tread and means forgauging the position of said cutters in their chamfering operations uponsaid opposite sides of said edge portion of the work.

6. A machine for chamfering the edge of a vat bottom or other workembodying therein, a support, an endless tread mounted on the supportfor engagement and movement upon the work operated upon, a pair ofchamfering cutters carried by the support for operative engagement withopposite sides of an edge portion of said work, means carried by thesupport for driving the cutters and for travelling the support, upon itsendless tread and means for gauging the position of the cutters in theirchamfering operations upon said opposite sides of said edge portion ofthe work.

'7. A machine for chamfering the edge of a vat bottom or other workembodying therein, a mobile support including an arcuate endless treadfor engagement on and having an axis point substantially at the centerof the work operated upon, a cutter carried by the support for operativeengagement with the edge of said Work, a source of power mounted on thesupport, means for driving said tread and the cutter from said source ofpower, and means for gauging the position of the cutter in itschamfering operation on said edge of said work.

8. A machine for chamfering the edge of a vat bottom or other workembodying therein, a mobile support including an endless arcuate treadfor engagement on and having an axis point substantially at the centerof the work operated upon, a cutter carried by the support for operativeengagement with the edge of said work, a source of power mounted on thesupport, means including reduction and reverse gearing for driving saidtread from said source of power, means for driving the cutter from saidsource of power, and means for gauging the position of the cutter in itschamfering operation upon said edge of said work.

9. A machine for chamfering the edge of a vat bottom or other workembodying therein a support, and arcuate endless traction tread for oneend thereof having an axis point at substantially the center of saidwork, a wheel for the other end of said support, said tread and wheelbeing adapted for a movable engagement upon the Work operated upon, acutter carried by the sup port for operative engagement with the edge ofsaid work, a source of power on said support, means for driving thetread anc the cutter from said source of power, and means for gaugingthe operative position of the cutter in its chainfering operations uponthe edge of said work.

10. A machine for chamfering the edge of a vat bottom or other workembodying therein a support, an arcuate endless tread element having itsaxis point at substantially the center of the work, operativelypositioned with respect to one end of the support and a trailing casterwheel for the other end of the support, said tread element and wheelbeing adapted to engage upon the work operated upon, a cutter carried bythe support for operative engagement with the edge of said work, asource of power on said support, means including speed reducing meansfor driving the tread from the source of power, means for driving thecutter from said source of power, and means for gaugin the cutter in itschamiering operations upon the edge of said work.

11. A machine for chamfering the edge of a vat bottom or other workembodying therein, a sup port, an endless tread carried by the supportfor engagement and movement upon the work operated upon, a verticalshaft iournalled in the support, top and bottom cutters mounted on saidshaft and each having a cutting edge for operative engagement with topand bottom edge portions of said work, means for driving said verticalshaft, and means for gauging the position of the said cutters in theirchamfering operations on the edge of said work.

12. A machine for chamfering the edge of a vat bottom or other workembodying therein, a support, an endless tread carried by the supportfor engagement and movement upon the work operated upon, a verticalshaft journalled in the support, top and bottom vertically spaced rotarychamfering cutters carried on said shaft for operative engagement withopposite sides of an edge portion of said work, means for adjusting thespacing between the cutters on said shaft;

means for driving said vertical shaft, and means for gauging theposition of the cutters in their ohamfering operations upon saidopposite sides of the edge of said work.

13. A machine for chamfering the edge of a vat bottom or other workembodying the-rein, a support, an endless tread carried by the supportfor engagement and movement upon the work operated upon, a cutter headcarried by the support outwardly of the edge of said work operated upon,a driven shaft journalled in said head, top and bottom cutters fixed onsaid shaft for operative engagement with top and bottom marginalportions of said work, means for driving said shaft, and means at eachside the cutter head for engaging the edge of said work for gauging theposition of said cutters in their chamfering operations on said marginalportions.

14. A machine for chamfering the edge of a vat bottom or other workembodying therein a horizontaliy disposed support, an arcuate endlesstraction tread operatively engaged therewith and having an axis pointsubstantially at the center of said work, a wheel carried by saidsupport, a motor on said support, a vertically arranged casing at oneend of said support, a cutter shaft journalled therein and driven by themotor, cutter position gauging means carried by said casing, gearing fordriving the shaft from the motor, and gearing between the motor andendless traction tread for driving the same in the desired direction.

15. A machine for chamfering the edge of a vat bottom or other workembodying therein a horizontally disposed support, ani arcuate endlesstraction tread operatively engaged therewith and having an axis point atsubstantially the center of said work, a wheel carried by said support,a motor on said support, a vertically arranged casing at one end of saidsupport, a cutter shaft journalled therein and driven by the motor, avat bottom edge engaging roller at each side of the cutter shaft, meansfor mounting each roller with respect to said casing whereby the samemay be adjusted toward or away from the edge of the work operated uponfor gauging the position of the cutter in its chamfering operation,gearing for driving said shaft from the motor, and gearing between themotor and endless traction tread for driving the same in the desireddirection.

CHARLES M. E. WENDNAGEL.

